Frequently Asked Questions

The Lee Board of County Commissioners sets priorities annually for the Lee County Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The priorities are grouped into three tiers, with widening of Corkscrew Road to four lanes currently as a Tier Two priority.
The county has four-laning plans for Corkscrew Road from Ben Hill Griffin Parkway to what is now Bella Terra Boulevard as part of the Corkscrew Road Service Area project from 10 years ago. Significant right-of-way was acquired and permits were obtained. However, those plans will need to be updated to reflect the two lane divided roadway that was built, along with any development entrance improvements constructed since the construction of the road widening. The plans will also need to be updated as necessary for modifications to environmental permits.
Widening Corkscrew Road from Bella Terra Boulevard to Alico Road will be a brand new project. Once authorized, a roadway widening project typically takes five to ten years, depending on permitting requirements and right-of-way acquisition needs.

Each study has a different focus area with some overlap. Both the Village of Estero study and the County study identify Corkscrew Road four-laning as a need with the four EEPCO developments. Staff and the EEPCO study consultant are considering the Village of Estero Village Wide Traffic Study recommendations for interim improvements. While the interchange itself is focus of the FDOT I-75 Corkscrew Road interchange study, the study included operational improvements to Corkscrew Road traffic signals that also will be considered.

Data from federal, state, and environmental advocacy agencies cover a larger area and identify wildlife movement throughout the region and may identify further opportunities for wildlife crossings for Board consideration.
The proportionate share for the four developments will include wildlife crossings within needed roadway improvements identified through the study, and potentially other standalone wildlife crossings connecting existing or proposed conservation areas within the overlay area.

This study will include recommended modifications to Corkscrew Road to accommodate surface water flow to and from properties in the overlay. As part of the bigger picture, the EEPCO study consultant and county staff, along with entities such as the Village of Estero and Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District, are coordinating data collection and participating in a regional stormwater modeling update being led by the South Florida Water Management District.
The proportionate share for the four developments will include surface water flow structures within needed roadway improvements identified through the study, and potentially other standalone drainage structures to reestablish surface water flow within the overlay area.

In 1994, the Lee Board of County Commissioners established the Density Reduction Groundwater/Recharge Area (DR/GR) in Southeast Lee County. In 2008 the county concluded the DR/GR study evaluation.
DR/GR Final Report
The study recommended priorities for acquisition by tiers.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has developed a transportation model for transportation planning called the Florida Standardized Urban Transportation Modeling Structure (FSUTMS). The model used locally includes all 12 counties in FDOT District 1.

Every metropolitan area with a population greater than 50,000 is required to have a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for transportation planning. The Lee County MPO consists of local elected officials from each municipality. Every five years the MPO is required to perform and update a Long Range Transportation Plan. The current MPO Plan horizon year is 2040.

Level of service is based on procedures outlined in the Highway Capacity Manual as refined by FDOT Quality of Service Manual for application in Florida. Level of service is measured on an A to F scale based on roadway geometry, traffic signal, and volume count data. A service volume is determined for each level of service letter grade.
Lee County has developed service volumes for county roadways

The Board of County Commissioners have established criteria to prioritize projects for the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Staff has developed a point scoring matrix for transportation projects. CIP projects are considered by the Board as part of the annual budget process.

A roundabout is a traffic control improvement that is typically considered when traffic control, such as a traffic signal, is being considered for an intersection. At an intersection with low to moderate volumes, a roundabout is more efficient than a traffic signal. However, a roundabout does not increase capacity on a roadway segment.

The Road Impact Fee Study is a countywide evaluation. If the proportionate share of a development is higher than road impact fees, then the development will pay the proportionate share determined by this study subject to the terms of their development agreement. If the proportionate share is less than impact fees, then developments pay only roadway impact fees.

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